Friendship is tested when there is nothing left to gain except the friendship.

Many friendships are sustained by circumstance: shared work, proximity, a common project. That is not a criticism, it is just how most connections operate, and it means the real test comes when the shared structure disappears. What remains when there is nothing practical to gain is the friendship itself. Some pass this and some do not, and the ones that do are worth a great deal.

Think about who you have kept up with after the reason to see them ended. Reach out to one of them this week without an agenda. Those relationships need very little maintenance and repay it disproportionately.